Word: Offset
Definition: A funding source used to pay for
new government spending, usually comprised of reductions to, or
elimination of, other government programs.
Used in a sentence: "
GOP Lawmakers Not Calling for Offsets for Sandy Aid"
What it means: When Congress passes
legislation that costs the government money—with the
exception of the annual appropriations bills—they look to
find "offsets," or savings from other government programs
to "pay for" the new legislation. Sometimes,
offsets are colloquially referred to as
"pay-fors"—literally, paying for something that the
government wants to buy. Finding an offset can be a challenge
because every Member of Congress has specific priorities and
programs he or she wants to protect and taking funding from one
program to pay for another often leads to internal debates between
political parties or chambers.
